Needle-bar and take-up lever selection apparatus for embroidery machine

ABSTRACT

An apparatus of embroidery machine equipped with multiple needles and take-up levers which enables an operator to select a set of needle-bars and take-up levers to be thrown into stitching operation from among a plurality of sets of the needle-bar and take-up lever by means of the electrical selection device.

United States Patent Tajima [451 May 20, 1975 [541 NEEDLE-BAR AND TAKE-UP LEVER 1,895,994 1/1933 Huntbgch 112/93 3,025,808 3/1962 MflfSC 1k 112/84 EMBISOIDERY MACHINE 3,092,054 6/1963 Marschik 112/83 $177,834 4/1965 Urscheler..... 112/83 [76] Inventor: lkuo Tajima, No. 44-10 3,349733 10/1967 Ree 112/83 Chokyuji-machi, Higashi-ku, 3,709.172 1/1973 Comerio 112/84 Nagoya, Japan FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] 1973 982,301 2/1965 United Kingdom mm [21] Appl. No.: 415,401

Primary ExaminerAlfred R. Guest [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Attorney, Agent, or FirmWenderoth, Lind & Ponack May 18, 1973 Japan v. 48-54556 May 18, 1973 Japan 4854557 [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus of embroidery machine q pp with i 95 96 multiple needles and take-up levers which enables an 0 a c operator to select a set of needle-bars and take-up levers to be thrown into stitching operation from among a plurality of sets of the needle-bar and take-up lever [56] References Cited by means of the electrical selection device.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,432,608 10/1922 Neff 112/93 3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 4313 43c 43d 43f PATENTED HAY 2 01875 SHEET 1 BF 6 o u o own, UON QWM ON #ON tum NM 5 uNm Iv N 42 Ev T um? m? nmv PATENTED mwzoms 884, 165

SHEET 2 0F 6 PATENTEB HAY 2 01975 SHEET Q BF 6 PATENTED HAY 2 01975 SHEET 6 [IF 6 NEEDLE-BAR AND TAKE-UP LEVER SELECTION APPARATUS FOR EMBROIDERY MACHINE BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus of an embroidery machine equipped with multiple needles, whereby an operator is able to bring a pair of selected needlebars and take-up levers to an operative position. In conventional embroidery machines, when producing multicolor embroidery by using various color threads, an operator should stop the machine, as soon as one kind of color yarn finishes its course of stitching formation on the fabrics, to thread a needle with a new different color yarn. This causes a repetition of stopping the machine for threading and entails not only a loss of time in machine operation but involves the use of costly labor with the consequence that a decrease of production efficiency and an increase of production costs are brought about. These drawbacks are also found when using different types of yarn such as cotton, nylon or other synthetic yarns.

Recently in order to overcome these drawbacks a plurality of shafts carrying a set of needle-bars and take-up levers respectively are utilized, each set being threaded with a different color yarn. It is so devised that one of said shafts is selectively put into operation by means of the electrical mechanism of the machine, thereby a set of needle-bars and a take-up levers connected to the said shaft starts to form the stitching ac- Y cordingly. Even though some improvement is found in this structure compared with the everytime-yarnchanging method, the number of shafts employed being limited (usually three shafts being employed), the

drawbacks described heretofore can never completely be overcome.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved embroidery machine having a means for selecting a set of needle-bars and take-up levers to be thrown into the stitching operation from among a plural set of needle-bars and take-up levers with which the embroidery machine is equipped.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means to bring a set of selected needle-bars and take-up levers to a position wherein a driving means for said set of needle-bars and take-up levers is arranged.

A further object of the invention is to provide a driving means for said set of needle-bars and take-up levers by which said set of needle-bars and take-up levers joins in stitching formation by moving upward and downward.

The above and further objects and novel features of r the invention will more fully appear from the following description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING in operative engagement with a take-up lever driver gear of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation sectional view DETAILED DESCRIPTION Spanning between and supported by a pair of upright stands 2a and 2b, are arranged horizontally: a take-up lever driving shaft 3, a supporting bar 4, a needle-bar driver shaft 6 and a needle-case slide bar 8, said slide bar 8 extending through said stands 2b and 2c supported thereby. Supported by said supporting bar 4, there is a frame 9 on which a needle-bar case 22 is mounted and which consists of a lateral frame 10, a central frame 12, said frames 10 and 12 being joined integrally by cross pieces 11a and 11b respectively, and lateral bars 16a and 16b arranged in parallel with said frame 10 and 12 respectively, said bars and 16b being secured to said frames 11a and 11b by fastening members 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d respectively. Numeral 14 indicates a groove disposed in said frame 12. Said needle-bar case 22 includes vertical frames 24a and 24b arranged in parallel and lateral frames 26 and 28. Vertically arranged passageways 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d, 30e and 30f equally spaced, are arranged through said frame 26 and another groupe of vertical passageways 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, 32:: and 32f, having the same size and dimension with said passageways series 30, are also arranged equally spaced through said frame 28.

Through said passageways 30a and 32a a needle-bar 34a provided with a needle 20a extends and slides upward and downward when said needle-bar 34a joins in a stitch formation. The same combination set up is madewith groupes of said members as follows:

needle needle-bar passageway passageway 20b 34b 30b 32b 20: 34c 30c 32c 20d 34d 30d 32d 20 34L 302 32e 20 f 34f 30f 32f Said needle-bars series 34 are fitted with needle-bar clamps series 38 having projected portions series 36 which are so disposed that they are able to engage within said groove 14 in said frame 12 and are slidable right and left within said groove 14.

Protruding right behind said needle-bar case 22, are arranged projected arms 40a, 40b, 40c and 40d, each of these projected arms having bored passageways 42a, 42b, 42c and 42d (42d, 40d not shown in the drawing) through which lateral bars 16a and 16b extended by sliding, whereby said projected arms can slide left and right.

On the upper most ends of frames 24a and 24b, are

arranged another set of projecting arms 39a and 39b between which is bridged a take-up lever guide bar 41 over which take-up lever guides 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d, 43e, and 43f are mounted in parallel and equally spaced. To one end of said take-up lever guides are attached take-up lever gears 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d, 47e and 47f respectively, while take-up levers 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d, 45:? and 45f are attached integrally to said take-up lever guides respectively.

Said take-up lever guide series 43 are rotatable and movable upward and downward with said take-up lever guide 41 on an axis. Said takeup levers have downward extending projections 49a, 49b, 49c, 49d, 49s and 49f (49b49e are not shown) respectively, and these projections are engaged within a groove 51 positioned in the base 56 and are movable within said groove 51.

Numeral 55 indicates a groove positioned in a base 56 and in front of a take up lever driver gear 53. (FIG. 2) Said take-up lever driver gear 53 is positioned on said base 56, through which the take-up lever shaft 3 extends and to which said shaft 3 is in a fixed relation.

As soon as one of said take-up lever gears series 47 halts in front of said take-up lever gear 53, as predetermined by a mechanism hereinafter described, two gears 53 and one of said series 47 will be in mesh with each other. These two types of gears (53 and one of said series 47) being in mesh with each other, are rotatable counterwise in unison with the rotation of said take-up lever driving shaft 3. In other words, as shown in FIG. 2, when said take-up lever driver gear 53 rotates counter clockwise in unison with the movement of said take-up lever driver shaft 3, said take-up lever gear 47a, being positioned and in mesh with said gear 53, rotates clockwise with said take-up lever guide shaft 41 as an axis, thereby said projection 49a, operatively positioned within a groove 55 arranged at right angle to said groove 51, moves toward the left direction (FIG. 2) with the consequence that the position of said takeup lever 45a is lowered downward. On the contrary when said take-up lever driver shaft rotates clockwise, said lever 45a moves upwards by means of the mechanism described above.

Numeral 44 is a projected portion integrally formed with said needle-bar case 22. To said portion 44 a bracket 48 is connected by means of fasteners 46a and 46b. The needle-bar case slide bar 8 extends through a bore 50 and is in a fixed relation to said bracket 48 by means of a bolt 52, whereby with right or left movement of said slide bar 8, said case 22 moves in the same direction simultaneously.

A needle-bar driver 54 positioned behind said case 22 is movable upward and dowaward through bushings 58a and 58b imbedded in the protruded stand of base 56. Said needle-bar driver 54 is equipped with a clamp 62 which has a groove 60 having the same width and depth as said groove 14. One of the projections series 36 of needle-bar clamps series 38 is arranged to be engaged with said groove 60 as soon as one of the preselected needle-bars stops sliding at the position in front of said needle-bar driver 54 by means of the mechanism as hereinafter described.

Whenever the needle-bar driver shaft 6 is in stationery position, it is so devised that said needle-bar driver 54 is arranged to be positioned vertically in the rear of groove 64 positioned in the frame 12 with an inner surface of said groove 60 of the needle-bar driver clamp 62 being arranged on a level with an inner surface of said groove 14.

When the needle driver shaft 6 extending through and in a fixed relation to a needle-bar driver crank 68 connected to said needle driver clamp 62, rotates as indicated by arrows, by means of a piston mechanism 70,

the movement is transmitted to said needle-bar driver 54 which moves upward and downward.

The needle-bar case slide bar 8 extends through stands 2a, 2b, and 2c, and is supported thereby. Extending laterally in parallel with said slide bar 8 and supported by stands 2b and 2c, is positioned a cam shaft 72 on which a cylindrical six step sliding cam 76 having a helically shaped groove 74 is mounted. Said slide bar 8 also extends through and is in a fixed relation to a cam driver 78 the ,lower end of which carries a roller 80 which slides within the groove 74. At the right end corner of said cam shaft 72, are mounted a row of mocro-switches 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d, 82e and 82f which, in response to an electrical contact with silver paper contact devices 86a, 86b, 86c, 86d, 86e, and 86f positioned on a punched card 84 of the Jacquard machine, starts a low speed motor 88 to rotate accordingly.

Numeral 90 indicates a gear directly connected to said motor 88 and a cam gear 92 is mounted on said cam shaft 72, and in mesh with the gear 90.

The rotation of said motor 88 is transmitted to said cam gear 92 through the medium of the gear 90, whereby said cam shaft 72 rotates in unison with said cam gear 92.

The embodiment described heretofore involves a structure carrying 6 needle-bars and the same number of take-up levers as a unit. Several units of such combinations can be utilized for this invention.

In the structure heretofore explained, a particular needle-bar always actuates with a particular take-up lever as a pair and these two members join in a stitching formation in the way known to those skilled in the art. For example, the needle-bar 34a and the take-up lever 45a forming a pair, join in a stitching formation. The followings are similar combinations which join in a stitch formation;

needle bar take-up lever 34b 45b 34c 45c 34d 45d 342 45e 34f 45f The outline of operation of this invention is described hereunder The following four groupes respond in relation to each other.

The first group consists of the silver paper contact devices including 86a, 86b, 86c, 86d, 86c, and 86f, the second group, microswitch devices including 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d, 82c, and 82f, the third group, the needle-bar devices including 34a, 34b, 34c, 34d, 34e, and 34f and the fourth group, the take-up lever devices including 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d, 45e, and 45]". The operative movement is transmitted in the direction as shown by arrows; the silver paper contact 86a the micro-switch 82a the needle-bar 34a and the take-up lever 45a.

When the silver paper contact 86a is connected to the microswitch 82a, and the motor 88 starts rotation, the movement of which is transmitted to the needle-bar case 22, through the media of gears 90 and 92, the cam shaft 72, the slide cam 76, the cam roller 80, the cam driver 78 and the needle-bar case slide bar 8 and said case 22 shifts laterally, stopping at the preselected position whereby the needle-bar 34a is positioned in the groove 64, and the take-up lever gear 47a to which is attached the take-up lever 45a, positioned at the groove 55 simultaneously. In the same manner, the needle-bar 34b is positioned at the groove 64 and the take-up lever gear 47b, at the groove 55 in response to the actuation of the silver paper contact 86b and the micro-switch 82b.

The operation heretofore outlined will now be explained more in detail as hereunder.

The punched card 84 mounted on the Jacquard machine (not shown in drawing) shifts forward as shown by the arrow and the silver paper contact 86a positioned on said punched card 84 is connected electrically with the micro-switch 82a, with the consequence the motor 88 starts, rotating a predetermined number of turns arranged by the silver contact 86a, whereby the slide cam 76 also rotates a predetermined number of turns accordingly, through the media of gears 90 and 92. With the turns of said slide cam 76, the cam roller 80 positioned at the lower end of said cam driver 78 and slidable within said helical groove 74, moves within said helical groove 74 a distance predetermined by said silver paper contact device, whereby said needle-bar case slide bar 8, extending through the bore 50 and being in fixed relationship to said bracket 48 which is attached to the projection 44 of the needle-bar case 22 by fasteners 46a and 46b, shifts laterally simultaneously with said case 22.

The sliding lateral movement of said case 22, supported by the lateral bar 16a which extends through bores 42a and 42b of projection arms 40a and 40b respectively, and by the bar 16b extending through bores 42c and 42d of projection arms 40c and 40d respectively, causes a plurality of projections series 36 of needle-bar clamps series 38 positioned and arranged in a row within the groove 14 to slide laterally and to stop at the possition where the needle-bar 34a being positioned in the groove 64, wherein said projection 36a is engaged with the groove 60 of the needle-bar driver clamp 62 arranged behind said groove 64.

In the same manner, with the lateral movement of said case 22 in response to the actuation of the silver paper contact, a plurality of projected portions series 49 positioned at the lower end of take-up levers series 45 shifts laterally within the groove 51, the shifting being stopped at the position where the projected portion 49a is positioned at the groove 55.

As described heretofore, the pre-selection of a needle-bar and a take-up lever is so devised that they are positioned at fixed grooves, 64 and 55 respectively in response to the electrical actuation of silver paper contact device, and simultaneously with the suspension of the movement of said needle-bar case 22, the movement of piston 70 starts whereby the needle-bar driver shaft 6 connected with said piston 70rotates as indicated by the arrows, the rotation being transmitted to the needle-bar driver 54, through the media of the me dle-bar driver crank 68 and the needle-bar driver clamp 62, which moves upward and downwards through bushings 58a and 58b.

The groove 60 of said needle bar clamp 62 is so arranged as to be engaged with said projection 36a of the needle-bar clamp 38a mounted on said needle-bar 34a positioned in the groove 64, whereby said needle-bar 34a slides upward and downward through bushings 30a and 32a simultaneously with the movement of said needle-bar driver 54.

In relation to the movement of a piston connected to the main shaft of the Jacquard machine (not shown in the drawing), the take-up lever driving shaft 3 rotates as shown by arrows, and simultaneously said take-up lever driver gear 53, being mounted on said shaft 3 and in mesh with said take-up gear 47a, rotates counterwise with said gear 47a whereby the take-up lever 45a moves upward and downward. The upward and downward movement of said needle bar 34a and that of takeup lever 45a are so arranged time-wise as known in prior art that both members join in stitching formation by the use of well-known threading method.

It is also so devised that, in the same manner described heretofore, various combination of needle-bars and take-up levers as a pair can join in a stitching formation in response to the actuation of a set of electrical contact devices for example, the silver paper contact 86b and the micro-switch 82b.

The followings are various combinations of needle bars and take-up levers and sets of electrical contact devices in response with each other.

Needle-bar Take-up lever Silver paper contact Micro-switch 34a 450 86a 82a 34b 45b 86b 82b 34c 45c 86c 82c 35d 45d 86d 82d 352 458 86e 820 35f 45f 8 6f 8 2f It will be realized from the above description that the effect of the present invention is attained by providing an apparatus which enables the user to select any needle-bar and take-up lever designed for a particular stitching operation automatically without stopping the machine and dispensing with rethreading a new yarn and eventually to eleminate a loss of time in machine operation and to reduce costly labor to a minimum.

I claim:

1. In a multiple needle-bar and take-up lever embroidery machine supported by a support bar and frame stands,

an apparatus comprising:

a needle-bar case (22) positioned on a needle-bar case frame (9), comprising the following members;

a. a frame structure consisting of two vertical frames (24a, 24b) and two lateral frames (26,

b. two pairs of projected arms (40a, 40b) (40c,

40d) through which lateral bars (16a, 16b) extend respectively, said projected arms being slidable in relation to said' lateral bars respectively,

e. a plurality of projections series (36) of needlebar clamps series (38) which are respectively at tached to needle-bars series (34) which can slide upward and downward respectively through holes series (30) positioned in said lateral frame (26) and holes series (32) positioned in the lateral frame (28), said projection series being slidable within a groove (14) positioned in a central frame (12),

d. a needle-bar case slide bar (8) attached to a projection (44) by the media of a bracket (48) with a bolt (52) and fasteners (46a, 46b),

e. a plurality of needles series (20) attached to the needle-bar series (34);

a structure of take-up levers, comprising a take-up lever guide bar (41) which are arranged between two projection arms (39a, 39b) and which are extending through equally spaced take-up lever guides series (43) which comprises take-up lever gears series (47), take-up levers series (45) provided with projected portions series (49) which are slidable within either a lateral groove (51) or a groove (55) positioned in a base (56) respectively; motor and cam driving means, comprising a motor (88) having a motor gear (90) which starts operation in connection with electrical contact devices including micro-switches series (82) and silver paper contacts series (86) positioned on a punched Jacquard card (84), the motor gear (90) being in mesh with a cam gear (92) mounted on a cam shaft (72), and a slide cam (76) which is also mounted on the cam shaft (72) and has a cam groove (74) within which a roller (80) of a cam driver (78) mounted on the needle-bar case slide bar (8) is slidably positioned;

needle-bar driving means, comprising a needle-bar driver (54) extending through and in fixed relationship to a clamp (62) provided with a groove (60) and being arranged movable upward and downward through bushings (58a, 58b) by means of a needle-bar driver crank (68) in operation with the rotation of a needle-bar driver shaft (6), and a tionship, the driving gear (53) not only being arranged to be engagable with one of the take-up lever gears series (47) which is selected by means of this invention but also being arranged to be rotatable with the rotation of said shaft (3), whereby one of the take-up levers series (45) attahced to one of the take-up lever guides series (43) being arranged to move upward and downward with one of the projected portions series (49) sliding within the groove (55).

2. In an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, there is the silver paper contact series (86) positioned on the punched Jacquard card (84), the movement of which brings one of the silver paper contact series (86) to connect electrically with one of the micro-switches series (82), whereby the motor (88) starts operation and by means of the motor and cam driving means, the movement is transmitted to the needle-bar case (22) which shifts to left side or right side a predetermined distance with the projection series (36) sliding within the groove (14) as arranged by the electrical contact of one of the silver paper contact series (86) with one of the micro-switches series (82).

3. In an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, supported by the support bar (4), there is a frame (9) on which the needle-bar case (22) is mounted and which consists of a lateral frame (10), a central frame (12) in which is positioned the groove (14), said frames (10, 12) being joined integrally by cross pieces (11a, 11b) respectively, and lateral bars (16a, 16b) arranged in parallel with said frames (10, 12) respectively, said lateral bars (16a, 16b) being secured to said frames (11a, 11b) by fastening members (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) respectively, 

1. In a multiple needle-bar and take-up lever embroidery machine supported by a support bar and frame stands, an apparatus comprising: a needle-bar case (22) positioned on a needle-bar case frame (9), comprising the following members; a. a frame structure consisting of two vertical frames (24a, 24b) and two lateral frames (26, 28), b. two pairs of projected arms (40a, 40b) (40c, 40d) through which lateral bars (16a, 16b) extend respectively, said projected arms being slidable in relation to said lateral bars respectively, c. a plurality of projections series (36) of needle-bar clamps series (38) which are respectively attached to needle-bars series (34) which can slide upward and downward respectively through holes series (30) positioned in said lateral frame (26) and holes series (32) positioned in the lateral frame (28), said projection series being slidable within a groove (14) positioned in a central frame (12), d. a needle-bar case slide bar (8) attached to a projection (44) by the media of a bracket (48) with a bolt (52) and fasteners (46a, 46b), e. a plurality of needles series (20) attached to the needlebar series (34); a structure of take-up levers, comprising a take-up lever guide bar (41) which are arranged between two projection arms (39a, 39b) and which are extending through equally spaced take-up lever guides series (43) which comprises take-up lever gears series (47), take-up levers series (45) provided with projected portions series (49) which are slidable within either a lateral groove (51) or a groove (55) positioned in a base (56) respectively; a motor and cam driving means, comprising a motor (88) having a motor gear (90) which starts operation in connection with electrical contact devices including micro-switches series (82) and silver paper contacts series (86) positioned on a punched Jacquard card (84), the motor gear (90) being in mesh with a cam gear (92) mounted on a cam shaft (72), and a slide cam (76) which is also mounted on the cam shaft (72) and has a cam groove (74) within which a roller (80) of a cam driver (78) mounted on the needle-bar case slide bar (8) is slidably positioned; a needle-bar driving means, comprising a needle-bar driver (54) extending through and in fixed relationship to a clamp (62) provided with a groove (60) and being arranged movable upward and downward through bushings (58a, 58b) by means of a needlebar driver crank (68) in operation with the rotation of a needle-bar driver shaft (6), and a groove (64) positioned in the central frame (12) behind of which the needle-bar driver (54) is positioned with its groove (60) being in a position ready to be engaged with one of the projections series (36) of the needle-bar clamps series (38), whenever a preselected needle-bar is positioned at the groove (64); and a take-up lever driving means, comprising a take-up lever driving gear (53) through which a take-up lever driving shaft (3) extends and to which the shaft (3) is in a fixed relationship, the driving gear (53) not only being arranged to be engagable with one of the take-up lever gears series (47) which is selected by means of this invention but also being arranged to be rotatable with the rotation of said shaft (3), whereby one of the take-up levers series (45) attahced to one of the take-up lever guides series (43) being arranged to move upward and downward with one of the projected portions series (49) sliding within the groove (55).
 2. In an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, there is the silver paper contact series (86) positioned on the punched Jacquard card (84), the movement of which brings one of the silver paper contact series (86) to connect electrically with one of the micro-switches series (82), whereby the motor (88) starts operation and by means of the motor and cam driving means, the movement is transmitted to the needle-bar case (22) which shifts to left side or right siDe a predetermined distance with the projection series (36) sliding within the groove (14) as arranged by the electrical contact of one of the silver paper contact series (86) with one of the micro-switches series (82).
 3. In an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, supported by the support bar (4), there is a frame (9) on which the needle-bar case (22) is mounted and which consists of a lateral frame (10), a central frame (12) in which is positioned the groove (14), said frames (10, 12) being joined integrally by cross pieces (11a, 11b) respectively, and lateral bars (16a, 16b) arranged in parallel with said frames (10, 12) respectively, said lateral bars (16a, 16b) being secured to said frames (11a, 11b) by fastening members (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) respectively. 